1 Introduction 1.1 Statutory Context 1.2 Assessment Methodology 1.3 The Content of the Environmental Statement 1.4 Structure of the Environmental Statement 1.5 Consultations 1.6 Review and Comments

1 Introduction

1.0 Background

1.0.1 Transport Scotland is proposing to improve the overtaking opportunities along the A75 Trunk Road (hereafter referred to as ‘the A75’ or ‘A75’) between Carrutherstown and Upper Mains Farm.

1.0.2 The wider A75 between the A74 (M) at Gretna and the ferry ports of Stranraer and Cairnryan forms part of the Trans-European Transport Network. With the exception of a few short sections of dual-carriageway the route is single-carriageway throughout its length.

1.0.3 As part of a wider strategy for improving the effectiveness of the A75 and resolving conflicts between strategic and local traffic, Transport Scotland (the agency responsible for delivering the Scottish Government’s vision for transport) has identified a number of sections of the route for upgrading.

1.0.4 This included a 3.6 km section of the road between Carrutherstown and Kinmount (nominated as A75 Hardgrove to Kinmount improvement, which is referred to throughout this statement document as the Proposed Scheme). This is a section with a poor safety record and higher number of accidents than the national average.

1.0.5 The Proposed Scheme involves the introduction of a new offline section of carriageway to the south of the existing road, which will include an alternating third lane to provide safe overtaking opportunities for road users in both directions.

1.0.6 The Proposed Scheme has been subject to a formal process of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in accordance with European Directives and Scottish statutes.

1.0.7 This Environmental Statement (ES) reports the findings of the EIA.

1.1 Statutory Context

1.1.1 The requirement to assess the environmental impact of road improvement schemes is contained with the provisions of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 (‘the 1984 Act’). These requirements were inserted and amended in to the 1984 Act through the Environmental Impact Assessment (Scotland) Regulations 1999 and the Environmental Impact Assessment (Scotland) Regulations 2006 respectively1.

1.1.2 Council Directive 97/11/EC introduced a requirement for trunk road projects to be screened to determine whether the potential environmental impacts of the project will be such that an EIA will be required. Transport Scotland undertakes such screening and publishes the resulting ‘determination’. Such a determination was made in relation to the Proposed Scheme identifying the need for a full EIA2.

1.2 Assessment Methodology

1.2.1 Transport Scotland adopts a standardised framework for undertaking a full EIA. Detailed in Volume 11 of the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB), Environmental Impact Assessment, the framework schedules a number of environmental topic areas that should be considered when establishing the scope for the assessment of any particular scheme proposal. This is discussed further in Chapter 5.

1.3 The Content of the Environmental Statement

1.3.1 Annex IV of the EIA Directive (97/11/EA) sets out the information to be presented in an Environmental Statement. This is -

1. Description of the project, including in particular:

  • a description of the physical characteristics of the whole project and the land-use requirements during the construction and operational phases,
  • a description of the main characteristics of the production processes, for instance, nature and quantity of the materials used,
  • an estimate, by type and quantity, of expected residues and emissions (water, air and soil pollution, noise, vibration, light, heat, radiation, etc.) resulting from the operation of the proposed project.

2. An outline of the main alternatives studied by the developer and an indication of the main reasons for this choice, taking into account the environmental effects.

3. A description of the aspects of the environment likely to be significantly affected by the proposed project, including, in particular, population, fauna, flora, soil, water, air, climatic factors, material assets, including the architectural and archaeological heritage, landscape and the inter-relationship between the above factors.

4. A description of the likely significant effects of the proposed project on the environment resulting from:

  • the existence of the project,
  • the use of natural resources,
  • the emission of pollutants, the creation of nuisances and the elimination of waste,

and the description by the developer of the forecasting methods used to assess the effects on the environment.

5. A description of the measures envisaged to prevent, reduce and where possible offset any significant adverse effects on the environment.

6. A non-technical summary of the information provided under the above headings.

7. An indication of any difficulties (technical deficiencies or lack of know-how) encountered by the developer in compiling the required information.

1.4 Structure of the Environmental Statement

1.4.1 The ES comprises fifteen chapters. Chapters 1-5 introduce and describe the Proposed Scheme, explain the statutory basis and framework adopted and the need for the development, outline the alternative solutions considered, and present a common reporting format for the ES.

1.4.2 Chapters 6–15 report the findings of the various environmental assessments undertaken. Chapter 14 outlines the relationship of the proposals to current policies and plans for the study area; whilst Chapter 15 appraises the construction-related impacts. The ES is supported by a series of figures and a number of appendices.

1.4.3 Figures are provided in Appendix A and consultation responses in Appendix B. Traffic data are presented in Appendix C. Historic Scotland (HS) special provisions with respect to archaeology are presented in Appendix D, and pollution prevention guidelines, provided by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), are found in Appendix E. Appendix G1-5 provide the necessary ecological data whilst the visual impact assessment tables are presented within Appendix F and the Environmental impact tables (EITs) are given in Appendix H. Appendix I includes the schedule of environmental commitments.

1.5 Consultations

1.5.1 Consultation has remained an integral part of understanding and assessing the environmental impacts of the Proposed Scheme; the objective being to inform the scope of the EIA, seek specialist knowledge about the site and ensure that the EIA is objective. The following statutory, non-statutory and interest groups were formally approached for their comments throughout the design and assessment process. These organisations are listed in Table 1.1 below. It should be noted that not all organisations provided a response.

Table 1.1 – Consultees

Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland

Historic Scotland*

Byways and Bridleways Trust

Macaulay Land Use Research Institute

Council for Scottish Archaeology

Meteorological Office

Cummertrees & Cummertrees West Community Council

National Trust for Scotland

Cyclists’ Touring Club Scotland

RSPB Scotland

Dalton and Carrutherstown Community Council

Scottish Biodiversity Forum Secretariat

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)

Scottish Civic Trust

Dumfries and Galloway Council*

Scottish Cyclists’ Union

Forest Enterprise

Scottish Environment Protection Agency*

Galloway Fisheries Trust

Scottish Executive*

Garden History Society

Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department (SEERAD)

Dumfries and Galloway Badger Group

Scottish Natural Heritage*

Dumfries and Galloway Bat Group

Dumfries and Galloway County Bird Recorder

Dumfries and Galloway Environmental Resources Centre

Scottish Wildlife Trust

Health and Safety Executive*

  

*Statutory Consultees

1.5.2 Consultations information/responses are presented, where appropriate, throughout the ES.

1.6 Review and Comments

1.6.1 This ES and copies of the Draft Orders can be viewed during normal working hours at:

Transport Scotland
Major Transport Infrastructure Projects
Buchanan House
58 Port Dundas Road
Glasgow
G4 OHF

Dumfries & Galloway Council
Council Offices
English Street
Dumfries
DG1 2DD

Georgetown Library
Gillbrae Road
Dumfries
DG1 4EJ

1.6.2 The ES can also be viewed on Transport Scotland website: www.transportscotland.org.uk.

1.6.3 Copies of the ES are available in hard copy for £150 or on CD or DVD for £10 (both including postage and packing). VAT is chargeable on DVDs and CDs. The statement also contains a Non-Technical Summary (NTS), which is provided free of charge. The NTS and the main ES are available from the Director of Major Transport Infrastructure Projects at Transport Scotland (address as above).

1.6.4 Comments on the proposals or their environmental effects can be sent in writing to the Director of Major Transport Infrastructure Projects at Transport Scotland at the address given above within six-weeks of publication of the notice of the ES.